Definition of LGBTQ Fantasy
Fantasy is the genre of imagination, of dreams, of possibilities that are unbound to laws. Visualize Surrealism as text and you have Fantasy. Fantasy is about magical worlds of possibilities. The landscapes are magical mystic and bewitching providing a perfect backdrop for sexual freedom and gender possibilities. At the same time the supernatural can also be used to provoke controversial perspectives of sex, gender, and societal rules.
Characteristics of LGBTQ Fantasy
Fantasy’s magical and mythical worlds provide a blank canvas for LGBTQ writers. In Fantasy, sexuality is only limited by the author’s vision or message they want to convey. The coded messages or vague sexual implications of past LGBTQ literature among contemporary characters are not as limited. In Fantasy, sexuality can be as fluid as imagination, natural laws or physical laws can be vanished in a puff of magic.
As a result of the temperament of Fantasy, lovers do not need to be different genders or even the same species- this allows authors to play with the readers’ perspective of gender, sex, social taboos. Therefore, LGBTQ Fantasy contains controversial topics, issues and bends the social rules of the world we live in, while offering another Fantastical World of possibilities.
Appeal of LGBTQ Fantasy
> Pace
- To generalize the stories’ pace usually builds from a slower scene building base to a dramatic climax.
> Characteristics
- Although the characters of LGBTQ Fantasies will still reflect a good verses bad persona, the alternative sexualities usually depicted as bad, will switch to the good while those that try to control sexuality will be the evil ones in LGBTQ Fantasy.
- Despite their magical attributes, the reader will identify, relate, and care for the characters.
> Storyline
- Just as with Fantasy without the LGBTQ focus, the storyline is based on light verse dark, the difference will be the definition change as to what is dark and what is light.
- There will still be some kind of quest, but the quest can entail a more sexual perspective such as a search for ones true self opening to gender alternatives.
- As in general Fantasy, LGBTQ Fantasy stories tend to be series as so much time has been given to developing the characters and magical worlds.
> Frame
- Time is spent to get the framing and the background of the story just right.
- The framing of the stories tend to be mystical, magical, and romanticized.
Subgenres & Key Authors
Epic or High Fantasy-Usually include a dangerous quest by the main character before they can return to their normal life.
- Diane Duane
- Jane Flecher
- Lynn Flewelling
Distant or Mythic Past- These stories parallel recognizable myths with new, alternative worlds.
- Samuel Delany
- Storm Constantine
- Mark Merlis
Folk & Fairy Stories- Many parallel familiar childhood stories.
- Peg Kerr
- Larissa Lai
Contemporary Magic- When magic is part of an every day life.
- Elizabeth Brownrigg
- Keith Hartman
Time Travel- Characters are able to repeat historical events
- Laura Adams
- Mark Anthony
Reader’s Advisory Challenges
The Fantasy genre has such a varied and wide appeal that it can create a challenge for a Queer Reader’s Advisory Librarian. It might be easier to ask patrons to focus on a theme of interest or to select a Fantasy sub-genre and then introduce them to the major authors .
Fantasy Appeal Summaries in this Blog:
